LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 41 



A traveller in South America says, that there 

 are a kind of ants in Brazil which travel in large 

 companies, and make a regular journey through 

 the country every year, giving notice of their 

 coming by the rustling of the dried leaves over 

 which they pass. It is a common practice with 

 many of the inhabitants to leave their houses on 

 their approach. The ants enter them, and after 

 effectually clearing them of rats, mice, roaches, 

 and all other annoying little animals, start off 

 again upon their march. 



Another kind of ants, also found in South 

 America, make their nests of green leaves, and 

 may be seen marching in long lines, each carry- 

 ing in its mouth a piece of leaf large enough to 

 cover it, as if to screen it from the sun. From 

 this circumstance, they have sometimes been 

 called the Parasol ants. 



As these processions of ants move along, the 

 path, for three or four inches in width, is often 

 perfectly green with them. They make their 

 nests, which are sometimes as large as a hogs- 

 head, in the branches of trees. Here they rear 

 their young and pass the winter ; but preferring 

 life and liberty in the open air, spend the sum- 

 mer ranging about the woods. 



